Bag closure

ABSTRACT

A FLAT DISC OF RESILIENTLY FLEXIBLE PLASTIC MATERIAL HAS A CONTINUOUSLY UNINTERRUPTED PERIPHERAL EDGE AND IS PROVIDED AT THE CENTER THEREOF WITH A I-SHAPED SLIT, THE ENDS OF WHICH ARE SPACED INWARDLY FROM THE PERIPHERY OF THE DISC. PORTIONS OF THE DISC AT THE OPPOSITE SIDES OF THE SLIT ARE DEFLECTABLE TO FRICTIONALLY ENGAGE A COMPRESSED MOUTH PORTION OF A BAG INSERTED THROUGH THE SLIT. IN A MODIFIED EMBODIMENT, THE DISC IS PROVIDED WITH TWO I-SHAPED SLITS INTERSECTING EACH OTHER AT RIGHT ANGLES. AN APERTURED TAB MAY BE PROVIDED INTEGRALLY AT THE PERIPHERY OF THE DISC FOR HANGING THE SAME AND THE ASSOCIATED BAG FROM A SUPPORT

United States Patent Myers June 28, 1974 [54] BAG CLOSURE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS lnventorl Robert Myers, 18506 Prince 384,453 2/1965 Switzerland 24/305 s William Ln., Houston, Tex. 77058 22 i Jam 3, 1973 Primary Examiner-Donald A. Griffin Attorney, Agent, or F irm-Sughrue, Rothwell, Mion, [21] Appl. No.: 320,696 Zinn & Macpeak [52] US. Cl. 24/305 S [57] ABSTRACT Int. A flat disc of resiliently flexible material has a Field of seal'dl S, P, 1316- continuously uninterrupted peripheral edge and is pro- G- 255 245 16 PB vided at the center thereof with a' I-shaped slit, the ends of which are spaced inwardly from the periphery References Cited of the disc. Portions of the disc at the opposite sides of the slit are defiectable to frictionally engage a com- UNITED STATES PATENTS pressed mouth portion of a bag inserted through the 793,826 7/1905 Damlco 24/nIo. 2s ux Slit- In modified embodiment. the disc is Provided 1,282,468 l0/l9l8 24/16 PB UX with two I-shaped slits intersecting each other at right 2,030,996 2/1936 24/3055 UX angles. An apertured tab may be provided integrally at 2.45 .2 12/19 8 24/255 BS UX the periphery of the disc for hanging the same and the Young associated bag from a support 3,237,094 3/l966 Abruzese 24/245 R X 3,357,070 l2/l967 S loan 24/305 s x 1 Claim, 5 Drawing Figures BAG CLOSURE This invention relates to new and useful improvements in bag closures, and in particular the invention concerns itself with disc type closures for plastic or fabric bags containing food, landry, trash, and the like.

Ordinarily such bags are closed by simply tying their mouth portion in a knot, or by using one of several conventional closure devices such as for example a wire tie or a flat closure plate having a slot extending inwardly from its edge, the mouth portion of the bag being compressed or bunched together and inserted laterally into the slot.

The present inventionhas for its principal object to structurally and functionally improve. upon the aforementioned conventional plate type closure so that it more firmly and dependably holds the bag in a closed position, yet is easily applied or removed during a single use or repeated uses on the same bag. As such, the invention provides a closure disc which has a continuously uninterrupted periphery and is provided at its center with an l-shaped slit, the ends of the slit tenninating inwardly from the periphery of the disc. When the mouth portion of a bag is inserted through the slit, portions of the disc at the opposite sides of the slit become deflected into frictional engagement with the bag mouth portion and firmly hold the same in a closed position.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure disc of the above mentioned type which may be formed at its periphery with an integral, apertured tab,

whereby the disc and the associated bag may be hungor suspended from a suitable support such as a nail or a hook, either for purposes of storage or display of the bag. I

The bag closure of the invention is simple in construction, easy to use, and lends itself to economical manufacture.

With the foregoing more important objects and features in view and such other objects and featrures which may become apparentas this specification proceeds, the invention will be understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like characters of reference designate like parts, and in which: 7

FIG. 1 is a plan view showing one embodiment of the bag closure disc of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side edge view thereof;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a modified embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective view showing the closure disc in position on the mouth portion of a bag; and

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the closure disc equipped with an apertured tab for hanging purposes.

Referring now to the accompanying drawings in detail, more particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the bag closure in accordance with the invention is designated generally by the numeral and comprises a flat, relatively thin disc 12 of resiliently flexible plastic material. This disc has a continuously uninterrupted peripheral edge 13 and is provided at the center thereof with an l-shaped slit 14. The ends of the slit terminate at points spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge 13 of the disc.

When the closure is to be used, the mouth portion 15 of a bag 16 which is to be closed is compressed or bunched together and is passed through the slit 14 in the disc. As this occurs, the portions 17 of the disc at the opposite sides of the slit become deflected from the plane of the disc and are resiliently urged into frictional engagement with the mouth portion of the bag, thus firmly holding the same closed.

It is to be noted that the transverse portions at the ends of the longitudinal portion of the l-shaped slit l4 serve a double purpose. First, they prevent possible tearing of the longitudinal slit portion beyond its intended length and, second, they facilitate deflection of the disc portions 17 evenly along the opposite sides of the slit.

The closure dic 10 with the single slit 14 is quite suitable for use on bags of thin material such as plastic or cellophane. FIG. 3 shows a modified embodiment which is better suited for use on bags of heavier material such as fabric, burlap, or the like.

In the embodiment of FIG. 3 the closure disc 22 also has a continuously uninterrupted peripheral edge 23, but is provided at the center thereof with two l-shaped slits 24, 25 which intersect each other at right angles. The ends of the two slits terminate at points spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of the disc and it will be noted that the region of the disc within the extent of the slits 24, 25 is in the form of four complemental triangles which, as such, will become deflected from the plane of the disc to frictionally engage the mouth portion of the bag when the latter is inserted through the intersecting slits.

FIG. 5 illustrates a closure disc 30, which may be provided either with a single slit (such as the disc 12) or with a pair of intersecting slits (such as the disc 22). However, the continuously uninterrupted peripheral edge of the disc 30 is enlarged to encompass a tab 31 which is integral with the disc body and projects radially outwardly therefrom. The tab 31 is formed with an aperture 32, whereby the disc together with the associated bag may be hung or suspended from a nail, a hook, or the like to support the bag in a hanging position, either for purposes of storage or display,,it being understood that the-frictional engagement of the closure disc with the bag is sufficiently'strong to facilitate such hanging.

The closure discs of the invention have a diameter of between 2% and 3% inches, preferably on the order of 3 inches. As such, their size is related to the size of fingers of the average user so that they are large enough to be conveniently grasped without slipping while they are being applied to or removed from the mouth portion of the bag. Also, they are large enough to shield the closed end of the bag in the area of the closure and thus safeguard the same against possible physical damage in the region of the greatest strain. Moreover, the relatively large size of the discs minimizes the possibility of them becoming lost or misplaced when not in use.

While in the foregoing there have been described and shown the preferred embodiments of the invention, various modifications and equivalents may be resorted to within the spirit and scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed as new is:

l. A bag closure comprising a flat disc of resiliently flexible plastic material having a continuously uninterrupted peripheral edge, said disc being provided at the center thereof with an l-shaped slit, the ends of the slit tenninating at points spaced inwardly from the peripheral edge of the disc, and portions of the disc at the op- 3,820,200 3 4 posite sides of said slit being deflectable from the plane grally therewith and projecting radially outwardly of the disc to frictionally engage a compressed mouth therefrom for suspending the disc and an associated portion of a bag inserted through the slit, said disc furbag from a support.

ther being provided with an apertured tab formed inte- 

